Apple Blocks Samsung Galaxy Tablet Sales in Europe

By Stephanie Rabiner, Esq. on
August 25, 2011 5:46 AM

As the Apple-Samsung patent battle heats up at home, the iPhone and iPad giant has scored a big win in the European Union, with a German court issuing an emergency injunction barring Samsung from releasing its Galaxy tablet Union-wide.

Though this is a big setback for the South Korea-based Samsung, the company continued forward, launching the tablet in India on Wednesday, and reiterating its plans to do the same in Australia next month.

Because the injunction does not apply in the Netherlands, Samsung is currently taking the opportunity to fight Apple's delay request with a complete hearing, which was not afforded in the German court.

The company is arguing that the entire Apple-Samsung patent suit comes down to Apple's overly broad interpretation of design, which would include most digital photo frames as infringing on its iPatents.

Apple has claimed in U.S., South Korean, Japanese, German, and Australian courts that the Galaxy product line infringes on its designs and technology.

While the Netherlands hearings continue (a ruling is expected on September 15), Samsung plans to file an opposition Dusseldorf Regional Court, likely requesting a full hearing.

Back in the U.S., there has been little movement since Samsung requested that Apple's outside counsel be removed from the case due to a conflict of interest.

However, this might be changing soon, as the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has granted Apple 21 more patents, including one for the iPhone's integrated touch screen and voice mail system.

These approvals could factor heavily into the global Apple-Samsung patent war.